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Hofstra University Athletics

THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
Meshack Eshun Addy
Meshack Eshun Addy
1
UNCW UNCW (5-1-1, 0-1 CAA)
2
Winner Hofstra HOFSTRA (6-1-0, 1-0 CAA)
UNCW UNCW
(5-1-1, 0-1 CAA)
1
Final
2
Hofstra HOFSTRA
(6-1-0, 1-0 CAA)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UNCW UNCW 1 0 1
Hofstra HOFSTRA 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | By Brian Bohl

MSOC: Hofstra Opens CAA Play With 2-1 Win Over #24 UNCW

Hempstead, N.Y. –Senior defender Daniel Grundei notched his first goal of the year and led a strong defensive effort and sophomore forward Meshack Eshun Addy's 65th minute goal broke a deadlock as Hofstra opened Colonial Athletic Association play with a 2-1 win over No. 24 UNCW on Saturday night at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.

In front of 1,011 people, the Pride improved to 6-1-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play by out-shooting the Seahawks, 16-11. Senior goalkeeper Patric Pray made four saves, including three in the second half, to preserve the win over nationally ranked UNCW, which lost for the first time all season in dropping to 5-1-1 and 0-1.

Junior midfielder Joseph Holland posted a game-high five shots and sophomore forward Mani Walcott added four while assisting on Eshun Addy's game-winner.

Hofstra entered the week receiving votes in the NSCAA national poll one week after being ranked 17th. The Pride made a bid to climb back into the top-25 by taking out a nationally ranked team for the second time this season. Hofstra bested then-No. 15 Syracuse on Opening Day. The win over the Seahawks gave Hofstra two wins over ranked teams in the same season since 2006, when the Pride defeated No. 23 James Madison and then No. 24 Old Dominion later in the campaign.

The Pride earned a 25th ranking from Top Drawer Soccer and looked to improve on the mark by winning the CAA opener for the third consecutive year. Hofstra is 5-6-3 in conference openers since joining the league in 2002.

Grundei, a center back and team captain, opened the scoring at 19:05 when he deflected in Rory Murphy's right-side corner. Grundei, who moved up directly in front of UNCW goalkeeper Sean Melvin, tipped the ball in for his fourth goal as a member of Hofstra after scoring three game-winning goals in 2014.

UNCW's Ben Fisher 's 32nd-minute goal tied the action. Fisher's effective dribbling created his own shot, which he blasted from 25 yards out just under the crossbar and above a leaping Pray for his fifth goal to knot the score at 1 at the half.

The game's momentum swung in the 57th minute when UNCW defender Ryan Nally was called for a straight red card. With Hofstra enjoying a man-advantage for more than the final half hour, the Pride took advantage when Eshun Addy capitalized on Walcott's pass and blistered a shot into the top left corner. His career-high fourth goal galvanized the crowd.

Grundei, Murphy, Jon Fraser and Marius Flateboe helped support Pray by limiting CAA leading scorer Colin Bonner to two shots and one-shot on target. Bonner did have a chance to tie, with his on-target attempt an 85th-minute header that Pray saved, keeping Bonner's league-leading tally at six goals. Pray also stopped Daniel Escobar's 86th-minute attempt to secure the win.

Hofstra will resume action on Saturday at Dartmouth with a 5 p.m. kickoff. 
 
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